Hair dryer



Nov. 29, 1960 Filed July 21, 1958 W. J. RUSSELL ETAL HAIR DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS WILL/AM J. RUSSELL ROBERT 5. FA Y BY v ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 w. J. RUSSELL ETAL HAIR DRYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1958 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. RUSSELL ROBERT B. FAY

ATTORNEY 5 Nov. 29, 1960 w. J. RUSSELL ETAL 2,962,576

HAIR DRYER Filed July 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 6 F G 2 M 9 O Q 6 35 Y 20 5/ 50b INVENTORS 4 W/LL/AM .1. RUSSELL ROBE/PT 5. FAY

W MW

ATTORNEY-S United States Patent HAIR DRYER William J. Russell, Kensington, Conn., and Robert B. Fay, Brockton, Mass., assignors to Handy Hannah Products Clprporatiou, Whitman, Mass., a corporation of Massac usetts Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 749,696

Claims. (Cl. 219-39) This invention relates generally to hair dryers and more particularly to an improved construction for hair dryers which have provision for heating the air and which are of a size and weight suitable for hand-held use.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a hair dryer which is light in weight, rugged and easy to operate while being economical to manufacture and which incorporates improved air-flow and heat-transfer characteristics.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for mounting the Working parts.

construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the hair dryer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the hair dryer shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the preferred embodiment with the top housing removed and part of the supporting structure cut away;

Fig. 5 is a partial side view of the preferred embodi-- ment',

' Fig. 6 is a cross section taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 isv a cross section taken along the lines 77 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is seen that the hair dryer of the preferred embodiment has a generally tapered profile defined by top housing 1, bottom housing 2, and front intake grill 3. Bottom housing 2 has depending support 4 fastened thereto and pivotally connected to base 5 by fastener 6.

Bottom housing 2 is provided with an aperture through which power cable 7 passes to energize the device, cable 7 being secured in a conventional manner to housing 2 lay-grommet 8.-- I I Front intake grill 3 is of molded plastic in the preferred embodiment and is provided with a series of peripheral intake passages 10 and a series of front intake passages 11 defined by the molded grill work. Switch operating handle 12 is centrally located in front of grill 3 and is arranged in the preferred embodiment to be rotatable from off to hot or cold positions.

Base 5 can be placed on a supporting surface, and the operating position of the dryer can be changed by varying the pivotal position of the housing structure relative to the base structure. It is also noted that base 5 has a grip portion 14 which is dimensioned to fit comfortably in the users hand in the event that hand-held use is desired.

Referring now to the internal structure and assembly features shown in Figs. 4 through 7, it is seen that main frame 16 is of generally cylindrical shape and is provided with three spaced inwardly extending mounting arms 17 to which three cooperatively positioned motor mounting arms 18, extending from front motor frame 35a, are secured by bolts 19. Supporting arms 17 and 18 are dimensioned so that shaft 20 of the electric motor, designated generally as 9, is coaxial with the longitudinal axis Electric motor 9 is of the series type having a laminated field frame 21, a field winding 22 and a wound rotor 23, to which electricalc'onnection is established through commutator 24 and of cylindrical frame 16.

brushes 25.

Shaft 20 of the electric motor has fan 32 secured ad jacent its outer end and positioned forward of the inwardly extending air directing vanes 33 which are integrally formed with main frame 16 to reduce turbulence in the air drawn in through front grill 3 by rotation of fan 32.

Three spaced supporting arms 27 are secured to the forward end of frame 16 by screws 28 and serve to support front grill 3, fastenedi thereto by screws. 29. The,

forward end of supporting arms 27 are welded or otherwise secured to plate 30.to which rotary switch 31 is fastened. The switch operating .rod passes through frontl grill 3 and has operating knob 12 fastened thereto.

Rear frame 35, which is secured to laminated frame.

tion is established to one end of heater wire 40 through terminal 42 secured to mica sheet 39, and to the other end of heater wire 40 through fuse link 43, also secured to mica strip 39.

In the structure thus far described, it is seen that in-' take grill 3 and switch 31 are secured to the front of frame 16, and that heater 36 and electric. motor 9 are secured to the rear of frame 16 so as to form a unitary assembly of the operating mechanism having a generally tapering profile and that this assembly is easily fabricated and assembled during manufacture.

The enclosure and support of the aforementioned assembly by the external housing and support members As.' most clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 6, frame 16 is provided. with two outwardly directed longitudinally extending. abutments 56 and 51. llpper housing 1 and lower lions:

are accomplished in a unique and simple manner.

ing 2 are provided with mating depressions or shoulders 50a, 50b, 51a and 51b which embrace abutments Sll'and" nels 56' and 57 cover the mating abutments 52 and 53' of housings 1 and 2, and aresecured thereto by bentover forward and rear end tabs 58. Rear end tabs 58 also engage and help to support rear grill 13. As clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6, a space is'provided between outer housings 1 and'2 and frame 16 so that electrical connecting wires can'pass' therethrough to establish connections between switch 31, motor 9 and heater 36.

In operation, when knob 12 is rotated to the hot position, motor 9 is energized to rotate fan 32 to draw cool air in through front grill 3. Because heater 36 is energized, the cool air, having its turbulence reduced by vanes 33, passes around motor 9 and is directed by the interior surfaces of frame members 1 and 2 across the heater wire 40.

If motor 9 fails to rotate fan 32, fuse link 43 will melt to open the circuit and prevent overheating. When knob 12 is rotated to the cold position, heater 36 is not energized and motor 9 moves cold air out of rear grill 13.

The tapered configuration of heater 36 provides more efficient exposure of the hot surfaces of wire 49 to the air passing therethrough, thereby to heat the air more efiiciently. Since cool air is drawn over switch 31 and motor 9 regardless of switch position, the operation of these elements is measurably improved. Of course, because of the coaxial straight-line arrangement of the constituent parts of the assembly, straight-line air flow is achieved which, because of its efficiency, enables a greater air flow to be achieved.

The absence of a complicated supporting structure and the use of lightweight materials enables the hair dryer to be light in weight and easily held by the users hand for seemingly long periods of time. The location of the switch in the front intake grill is not only convenient to use but also insures that the switch will remain cool to touch during extended periods of operation. Thus, the resultant assembly is not only economical to achieve, effective, and rugged to use, but also presents a generally pleasing appearance Which is most essential when sales to women are desired.

As many changes could be made in the above con struction and many different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A hair dryer comprising a cylindrical frame, a front bracket secured to said frame, a front grill supported by said front bracket, an electric switch centrally disposed in said front grill and supported by said front bracket, a rear bracket on said frame, an electric motor supported by said rear bracket and positioned so that the axis of said motor is coaxial with the axis of said frame, a propeller secured to the shaft of said motor for rotation therewith at a point within said cylindrical frame, said propeller being constructed to draw air through said front grill and around said switch, a heater support secured to said motor at a point opposite said rear bracket, a resistance heater secured to said heater support and symmetrically disposed about the axis of said frame, said grill,

frame, motor and heater defining a unitary assembly,

and a housing dimensioned to substantially enclose and support saidassembly, said housin'g'engaging said frame and abutting said front grill.

2. A hair dryer comprising a hollow frame having a longitudinal axis, said frame having outwardly and longitudinally extending abutments formed thereon, an electric motor supported by said frame, the shaft of said motor being positioned coaxially with said frame axis, a propeller mounted for rotation with the shaft of said motor at a point within said hollow frame, a resistance heater mounted on said motor opposite to said fan and symmetrically disposed about said frame axis, said frame,

motor and heater defining an assembly whose profile tapers from front to rear, and an external housing of tapered profile, said housing being formed in two pieces adapted to be joined in aplane parallel to said longitudinal axis, the abutting edges of said two pieces having depressions formed therein and dimensioned to engage said frame abutments when said pieces are joined thereby to support said frame within said housing.

3. A hair dryer comprising a hollow frame having a longitudinal axis, an electric motor supported by said frame, the shaft of said motor being arranged coaxially to said frame axis, a propeller mounted for rotation with the shaft of said motor at a point within said hollow frame, a bracket secured to said motor at a point on said motor opposite said frame support, a resistance heater secured to said bracket, said frame, motor and heater defining a unitary assembly, outwardly extending abutments formed on said frame, and an external housing, said housing being formed in two pieces adapted to be joined in a plane parallel to said longitudinal axis, the abutting edges of said two pieces having depressions formed therein dimensioned to engage said frame abutments when said pieces are joined thereby to support said unitary assembly.

4. A hair dryer comprising a cylindrical frame having outwardly extending abutments thereon, said abutments extending in a direction parallel to the axis of said frame, a bracket secured to the front portion of said frame, a grill secured to said front bracket, a switch secured to said front bracket and having an operator extending through said front grill, an electric motor supported by said frame at the other end of said housing, said motor being supported so that its shaft is coaxial with said frame axis, a propeller mounted for rotation with the shaft of said motor at a point within said hollow frame, a bracket secured to said motor at a point opposite to said frame support, a resistance heater secured to said last-named bracket and symmetrically disposed about said frame axis, said grill, frame, motor and heater defining a unitary assembly, and a housing dimensioned to abut said front grill and to substantially enclose said assembly, said housing being formed in two pieces adapted to be joined in a plane parallel to said frame axis, the abutting edges of said two pieces of said housing having depressions formed therein and dimensioned to engage said frame abutments when said pieces are joined thereby to support said unitary assembly.

5. A hair dryer comprising a cylindrical frame having outwardly extending abutments thereon, said abutments extending in a direction parallel to the axis of said frame,

a brac :et secured to the front portion of said frame, a

grill secured to said front bracket, a switch secured to said front bracket and having an. operator extending through said front grill, an electric motor supported by said frame at the other end of said housing in a position wherein its shaft is coaxial with said frame axis, a propeller mounted for rotation with the shaft of said motor at a point within said hollow frame, a bracket secured to said motor at a point opposite to said frame support, a resistance heater secured to said last-named bracket and symmetrically disposed about said frame axis, said grill, frame, motor and heater defining a unitary assembly, a housing dimensioned to abut said front grill, to substantially enclose said assembly and to define an air outlet 9,962,576 5 6 aperture, said housing being formed in two pieces adapted References Cited in the file of this patent to be joined in a plane parallel to the axis of said frame, outwardly extending flanges formed at the abutting edges UNITED STATES PATENTS of said two housing pieces, said flanges having depressions 1,760,997 Shelton June 3, 1930 formed therein and dimensioned to engage said frame 5 2,026,991 Martin Jan. 7,1936 abutments when said pieces are joined thereby to support 2,041,687 Benson May 26, 1936 said unitary assembly, a rear grill positioned in said air 2,081,034 Carter May 18, 1937 outlet aperture, and a pair of flange enclosing channels en- 2,645,034 Hupp July 14, 1953 gaging the front and rear edges of said housing and sup- 2,678,376 Lockwood May 11, 1954 porting said rear grill. 10 2,834,866 Bentzman May 13, 1958 

